PF, you check the nav lights by turning the battery on. You need to be looking at the light as you do, and it flashes on briefly, then goes back out. It helps to have 2 pilots, one watching each side. They come on as soon as the starter is released and the generator starts working, if you have them turned on, and I have them turned on all the time. As for mechanics whining about replacing landing lights - tell them it's job security, they always have something to do. Better to replace landing lights and even a few wires than complete helicopters, with pilots. The only time things burn is when the pilot forgets to turn it off after landing. I keep mine on all the time during the day, and did when I flew 206s. I turn it off at night when out in the Gulf, because I can't see anything outside with it on in cruise (as if there were that much to see anyway) and I want to try to keep some semblance of night vision. When there is lots of haze it's really bad. I don't turn it on until short final. On and approaching the beach, I keep it on at night, because being seen is more important than seeing.